A 15-year prison sentence has been handed down to Rubiel Perez, a 31-year-old man from Allentown, Pennsylvania, for his role in an armed robbery spree that terrorized three 7-Eleven convenience stores in Lehigh County in March 2023.
Perez was charged by indictment in November 2023 and pleaded guilty in March of this year to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to prosecutors, on March 28, 2023, Perez entered a 7-Eleven convenience store on Union Boulevard in Allentown, pointed a handgun at a store employee, and stole $937 before fleeing. The next night, the defendant targeted a 7-Eleven convenience store on South 4th Street in Allentown, pointing a handgun at a store employee and threatening him, before stealing $150 from the store.
Later that same night, Perez entered a 7-Eleven on West Tilghman Street in South Whitehall Township and attempted to rob the store by pointing a firearm at the store employee and threatening him.
“Three times in two days, Rubiel Perez pointed his gun at store clerks and made them fear for their lives,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf. “Prosecuting violent offenders is a priority for my office. We will not permit criminals to prey on the people in our communities.”
In this case, Perez will serve 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Allentown Police Department, and the South Whitehall Township Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert W. Schopf.
The authorities say that stopping violent criminals who terrorize communities is a primary mission, and they will continue to work together to make Pennsylvania’s communities safer for all.
Rubiel Perez, 31, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release for his role in the armed robbery spree in Lehigh County.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The spree occurred on March 28-29, 2023, and involved three 7-Eleven convenience stores in Allentown and South Whitehall Township.
The authorities recovered $937 in stolen cash from the first robbery.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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